Peace Out part 5
I want to end this Rant series with a simple, but clear and powerful, message. Jude 1:2, "Mercy unto you, and peace, and love, be multiplied." I kind of think that says it all. It comes in threes, right? Faith, hope, and love. Mercy, peace, and love. (Notice the key there? Love is always included.) And the most important part, to me, is "be multiplied." Almost the opposite of, "If you don't use it... you lose it." Because if you do use mercy--if you're merciful--if you do use peace--if you're peaceful--if you do use love--if you're loving--then by giving what you've got you multiply it. Like the loaves and fish, right? When you really need something--and when I say "YOU" I mean when you really need to share something, or give something away--you can't run out of it. You get more of it (in a sense) by giving it away. You experience it by using it. Love is giving. You can give without loving, but you can't love without giving. Having peace is important. More important when you can use your peace to make peace for others. When you can multiply it. I always try to talk about how things are bigger, better, more important, more real, when you share them. Like a movie. If you see an awesome movie by yourself... that's good stuff. But when you can see it with someone else who appreciates it, that's a horse of a whole different color. That's above and beyond. If you can be peaceful, on the inside, when you're by yourself, that's amazing. Inner peace. Knowing that the One who lives in us IS our peace. Amazing. So how much more so then, if you can spread that peace? If you can let what's inside come out and share it with those around you. If you can make your environment more peaceful. That's not just good for you, it's good for everybody. And, let me say this: Sometimes, no matter how peaceful you are, other people are going to hold on to... whatever it is they're holding onto. And to that I say this: Don't worry about it. I figured out a long time ago that I'm not for everybody. And that's ok. Don't lose your peace because someone else won't pick up what you're laying down. And don't try to force it down other people's throats either. They'll just choke on it. If you're trying to force someone to experience your peace... that's not peaceful. You'll lose your peace, and you surely won't magnify it or spread it around. So just be cool. Peace out. Focus on the peace of God in your life. Receive it and release it. Fill yourself to overflowing with what you've already been filled with. By knowing and believing. By letting the peace of God reign in your life. You can always be peaceful, no matter what. No matter what is going on around you. Because Jesus is our peace. And He has already overcome the world. He took care of everything that needs to be taken care of. We can have peace because He brought the sword. He did all the heavy lifting. Finished the work. Brought the moutains low and the valleys high. So that we could walk a straight and narrow way that leads to life. So that we could take what we've got and use it. Experience it. Enjoy it. By giving it away. By magnifying it!